Re: The Travel Thread

So I'm debating where to go on a family vacation with my lady and her son (12 years old) and it's a toss up between Boston and NYC. Looking at the second week or so of September and definitely hitting up a baseball game and looking to sight see. Any input is appreciated.

Re: The Travel Thread

Hope you're having a blast in the Phillipines and France! Unfortunately can't give any advice on either.

I just booked a weekend in Atlanta, 7/11-7/14. Any can't miss spots? I'll be deferring to Mr. and Mrs. Icedkeg on everything, but suggestions are welcome.

I don't know if I'd label either a can't miss, but I like the burgers at Vortex (especially the Hell's Fury burger) and last time I was there, we ran up a ridiculous tab at Limerick Junction (Irish pub and apparently the oldest one in Atlanta.)

Re: The Travel Thread

Originally Posted by BlueDevil50

So I'm debating where to go on a family vacation with my lady and her son (12 years old) and it's a toss up between Boston and NYC. Looking at the second week or so of September and definitely hitting up a baseball game and looking to sight see. Any input is appreciated.

Both are great, but I think New York is ripe for a 12 year old. My 11 year old would not be happy to go to Boston knowing that NYC was on the table.

Originally Posted by dj12inches

What makes me qualified? I've watched EVERY fucking episode of American Idol, and every single episode of The Voice...Forget that I won departmental music awards when I was in the 8th grade choir.

Re: The Travel Thread

Originally Posted by CuervoPH

I don't know if I'd label either a can't miss, but I like the burgers at Vortex (especially the Hell's Fury burger) and last time I was there, we ran up a ridiculous tab at Limerick Junction (Irish pub and apparently the oldest one in Atlanta.)

thank you. i'll look them up.

Originally Posted by guedita

Which healthcare provider will euthanize you the fastest as a service to society?

Re: The Travel Thread

bump bump

So, I'm planning to take 2 weeks off of work in November to do some traveling. I did Iceland earlier this year and had the most amazing time (I'll eventually post pictures in here). However, I'm torn on where to go and would love some advice/suggestions from my fellow boardies.

I know that I'd like to go to some places that I haven't before - no England, France, or Brazil (unless someone else wants to go!). I've given these ideas some thought:
- Central European vacation involving Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Germany
- Spain & Portugal, maybe another country?
- Amsterdam, Belgium, Germany
- Ireland, Scotland, Wales, England - the full UK
- Any South American recommendations welcome too!

Alot of it's dependent on cost of going to these places (which ones are more expensive than others), where someone else may want to go (if I travel with someone), and just overall what is there to do during the night & day? I'm also curious - does anyone live overseas that'd be willing to put up a boardie for a couple of nights & maybe serve as a tour guide? I'm trying to save money in doing this, and would gladly repay the favor should anyone ever find themselves in my neck of the woods.

Re: The Travel Thread

Originally Posted by betao

bump bump

So, I'm planning to take 2 weeks off of work in November to do some traveling. I did Iceland earlier this year and had the most amazing time (I'll eventually post pictures in here). However, I'm torn on where to go and would love some advice/suggestions from my fellow boardies.

I know that I'd like to go to some places that I haven't before - no England, France, or Brazil (unless someone else wants to go!). I've given these ideas some thought:
- Central European vacation involving Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Germany
- Spain & Portugal, maybe another country?
- Amsterdam, Belgium, Germany
- Ireland, Scotland, Wales, England - the full UK
- Any South American recommendations welcome too!

Alot of it's dependent on cost of going to these places (which ones are more expensive than others), where someone else may want to go (if I travel with someone), and just overall what is there to do during the night & day? I'm also curious - does anyone live overseas that'd be willing to put up a boardie for a couple of nights & maybe serve as a tour guide? I'm trying to save money in doing this, and would gladly repay the favor should anyone ever find themselves in my neck of the woods.

Any recommendations or thoughts please send my way. Thanks!

We're going to Spain in November. If you end up going there, let us know when you are headed over.

Originally Posted by RandyInHeaven

Devin - how does it feel to know that there are still more women in the world that would fuck me at this very moment than would fuck you?

Central Europe is very nice. I like Vienna, Salzburg, Berlin, Prague. Munich is interesting I suppose, but the "old town" felt like disneyland and the rest of the city is just a big city, you could be in Dallas or something.

Spain is great. Barcelona, Madrid, and especially (for me) Andalusia.. Sevilla is a marvelous city. Hot as all fuck in the summer though.

If you've never been to Amsterdam you should go. Brussels, eh, they have good beer and pretzels and chocolate and french fries. Western Germany is ok.. the Rhine/Mosel wine country is kind of cool. Cologne is a little dull, Frankfurt is a lot dull.

Ireland is not in the UK. well most of it isn't. I like Ireland though.

Been to Macchu Pichu and that whole "inca" area in Peru, and that's the journey of a lifetime if you can swing it.

Re: The Travel Thread

Originally Posted by betao

bump bump

So, I'm planning to take 2 weeks off of work in November to do some traveling. I did Iceland earlier this year and had the most amazing time (I'll eventually post pictures in here). However, I'm torn on where to go and would love some advice/suggestions from my fellow boardies.

I know that I'd like to go to some places that I haven't before - no England, France, or Brazil (unless someone else wants to go!). I've given these ideas some thought:
- Central European vacation involving Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Germany
- Spain & Portugal, maybe another country?
- Amsterdam, Belgium, Germany
- Ireland, Scotland, Wales, England - the full UK
- Any South American recommendations welcome too!

Alot of it's dependent on cost of going to these places (which ones are more expensive than others), where someone else may want to go (if I travel with someone), and just overall what is there to do during the night & day? I'm also curious - does anyone live overseas that'd be willing to put up a boardie for a couple of nights & maybe serve as a tour guide? I'm trying to save money in doing this, and would gladly repay the favor should anyone ever find themselves in my neck of the woods.

Any recommendations or thoughts please send my way. Thanks!

If your doing your trip in November, the Spain/Portugal trip will have the best weather out of the European options and would likely be the cheapest option. There's a ton of things to see in Spain between Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Granada, side trip to Ibiza, Canary Islands, or Morocco.

Re: The Travel Thread

You have to fly to the Canary Islands, usually from Madrid or Barcelona. The main island is Tenerife and the airport code is TFN. Its a beautiful island that is basically off the coast of Africa and is essentially the Hawaii of Europe.

Re: The Travel Thread

Originally Posted by betao

Ah, I'm looking to do the weeks before and of Thanksgiving. I'd be getting in shortly after you left

How much should I plan on budgeting food/drink/hotel wise? Any estimates?

I'm finding the hotels to be relatively cheap in Madrid and Barcelona. Well under a hundred euro a night, even for a decent one. I didn't look into any youth hostels but I bet those are extremely cheap in November (shoulder season). I also know you can get a small beer or a glass of local red wine for about a euro a piece.

Originally Posted by RandyInHeaven

Devin - how does it feel to know that there are still more women in the world that would fuck me at this very moment than would fuck you?

Re: The Travel Thread

Originally Posted by JorgeC

I just booked a weekend in Atlanta, 7/11-7/14. Any can't miss spots? I'll be deferring to Mr. and Mrs. Icedkeg on everything, but suggestions are welcome.

I was in Atlanta for training a couple years ago (thanks, ADP!) and Jen and I had a ridiculously awesome meal at Mary Mac's Tea Room. I'm not generally one for soul food but that place made me a fan. We also had a really good breakfast at The Flying Biscuit, which my memory suggests may have had a biscuit posing as a flying saucer somewhere on the property, be it as a sculpture or painting, but I may be remembering that incorrectly.

Originally Posted by betao

So, I'm planning to take 2 weeks off of work in November to do some traveling. I did Iceland earlier this year and had the most amazing time (I'll eventually post pictures in here). However, I'm torn on where to go and would love some advice/suggestions from my fellow boardies.

I know that I'd like to go to some places that I haven't before - no England, France, or Brazil (unless someone else wants to go!). I've given these ideas some thought:
- Central European vacation involving Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Germany
- Spain & Portugal, maybe another country?
- Amsterdam, Belgium, Germany
- Ireland, Scotland, Wales, England - the full UK
- Any South American recommendations welcome too!

Alot of it's dependent on cost of going to these places (which ones are more expensive than others), where someone else may want to go (if I travel with someone), and just overall what is there to do during the night & day? I'm also curious - does anyone live overseas that'd be willing to put up a boardie for a couple of nights & maybe serve as a tour guide? I'm trying to save money in doing this, and would gladly repay the favor should anyone ever find themselves in my neck of the woods.

Any recommendations or thoughts please send my way. Thanks!

Cannot recommend Amsterdam enough. If there weren't more places in Europe we wanted to hit, that would be my preferred destination every year. We bought 2 hash brownies and split them up each of the 2 days we were there and they were so potent I thought I was going to melt into my chair at dinner. The Van Gogh museum was also really interesting, and we found this café near our hotel (Banks Mansion, which was amazing, although it was expensive as fuck and would probably consume a good chunk of your budget) where we were served a bunch of Duvel by a gregarious Carl Cox look-alike who must have fucked up running my card because our 80+ euro tab never hit our account.

Originally Posted by Larry Farnsworth

"I assume you guys aren't familiar with all of the shit on this lineup but if you listened to shit radio stations you would be."

Re: The Travel Thread

Originally Posted by JorgeC

I just booked a weekend in Atlanta, 7/11-7/14. Any can't miss spots? I'll be deferring to Mr. and Mrs. Icedkeg on everything, but suggestions are welcome.

Missed this when you first posted, but the Vortex and Limerick Junction recommendations are solid. The Vortex has a couple locations – the best is in Little Five Points and is right around the corner from a couple really good record stores (Criminal Records and Wax 'n Facts). Not sure what else you're looking to do, but feel free to post here or send me a PM. I've lived here for five years and can probably point you in the right direction.

Re: The Travel Thread

Arrived in Norway a few days ago and made the trek up North to visit in-laws. Stopped in Lillehammer along the way for 24 hours and would love to go back for a few days because of so many outdoor activities. The town is absolutely beautiful, situated along a wide river in a grand valley, like most towns here are. We hiked up to the ski stadium and around the Olympic grounds, which remain pristine. While there, we watched a few dozen summertime ski jumps and caught a U10 Youth Hockey match before heading 15 minutes north to where we went down the Olympic Bobsled Track in a wheelbob. Caught some serious G's riding up on those turns.

Now, we're staying on a cabin alongside a rushing river, watching World Cup in the Midnight Sun. Today, we did the hardest ropes course ever (for me at least), with the kids and walked around town.

Originally Posted by dj12inches

What makes me qualified? I've watched EVERY fucking episode of American Idol, and every single episode of The Voice...Forget that I won departmental music awards when I was in the 8th grade choir.

Re: The Travel Thread

Matty--hey also wanted to second my husband's recommendation of Amsterdam. Just be aware that it's a tough city on a budget. IIRC, Amsterdam is the second most expensive city in the UK next to London. The Banks Mansion ran upwards of $300 a night (however, it was an open bar hotel....so we made sure to try to drink our money's worth).

Chris (sonofhal) has mentioned to me in the past that Portugal is incredibly cool and incredibly cheap. So that may be an option for you too.

Totally looking forward to getting lost in a sea of tapas and red wine. Sorry we'll just be crossing paths.

Originally Posted by RandyInHeaven

Devin - how does it feel to know that there are still more women in the world that would fuck me at this very moment than would fuck you?

Re: The Travel Thread

It is all relative. For people living in USA, generally we find most places in Western Europe (more) expensive. For people in the UK, expensive cities like Amsterdam, Paris, Brussels etc are a little cheaper (or at worst, about the same) when you compare it to say, London, the most expensive city in that side of Europe.

From my experience, London is up there with most expensive cities in Switzerland, Copenhagen and Stockholm. But it is easier to find amazing free things to do or "best value" or bargains (if you work hard) on anything especially when it comes to any type of accommodations in London vs. all those expensive places.

Matt,

If your budget survived and you have had an amazing time - aka able to do or enjoy great things in life - be it for for free or at a premium cost in Iceland, England and France - you & your wallet are ready for the most expensive places in the world, yeah, even Sydney (any place in Australia), Moscow, Japan (found the last one not to be THAT expensive since I went there after having been to some of the most expensive places in Europe) and especially, any place in your list. If you loved and enjoyed tent camping at Coachella ... your wallet will love you as if you plan & do it smartly, be prepared for some life-changing independent and budget backpacking by staying in hostels or via couchsurfing.

If you really want warm climate and almost guaranteed some time at the beach and nature-tripping somewhere in "Europe" that are also budget-friendly - Canary Islands and/or mainland Spain & Portugal is indeed a good choice. In my experiences so far, Spain and Portugal are the best value in Western Europe. I was in Malaga, Gran Canaria & Tenerife Canary Islands and Lisbon during the last leg of my 2013-2014 Christmas and New Year trips which ended middle of January early this year. More details on this later for tips, logistics and my top travel lists/experiences.

If you really want the cheapest and maybe a little colder than where you live ... Still in Europe ... I will suggest Eastern Europe plus Budapest and/or Prague (depending on where you will decide to go in EE as one or both could be too far). I have not been to EE but I have been twice to Prague on 2 different seasons (celebrated the last NYE there). I will do a more proper and little more extensive Christmas and New Year's vacation again late this year - revisiting again some of my favorite places in Europe to experience or celebrate my birthday and all my most favorite holidays. I will be also in some place that I have never been including Sofia, Bulgaria (my would be first visit to EE). Not sure if I will have the time and if the weather will cooperate a super quick side trip to Poznan, Poland from Berlin. I booked all the flights (using frequent flyer rewards the RT to Rome) and accommodations I need. I did it on the same day I purchases my 2015 Coachella passes.

If you want cheaper than Eastern Europe and even warmer than the Canary Islands plus maybe even more life-altering 2 weeks experience, how about Thailand? Or pick your paradise anywhere in Southeast Asia. Keep in mind, Singapore and HongKong, when it comes to prices of anything (except maybe street or hawker center food), they are the Switzerland, London and Australia of SEA.

Follow your gut instincts, make your dreams come true. I am not saying go to those super expensive places now like Sydney where I celebrated 2011-2012 Christmas & NYE. Man, strolling at the beaches Christmas Day and New Year's Day make it all worth it! I even got to stroll around Waikiki Beach still New Year's day by flying out of Sydney the same day. Hehe

As where I will celebrate 2014-2015 NYE? London baby! Finally. It won via penalty shoot out over Edinburgh. It lost several times in the previous finals of my World Cup NYE dreams.

Re: The Travel Thread

I wish I have the time and money now to do a long-term travel (at least a year) - traveling slowly and staying longer in off the beaten places. Having said that, my favorite countries that I keep going back to and have traveled most extensively (outside of USA) are Spain, Italy and France in that order. The people. The food. The culture. And for a lot more reasons. Not so much about the sights and attractions but if that is what your thing, they have ton of that as well.

My Favorite Places out of the 2 Islands in the Canaries I Have Visited:

Malaga and Lisbon unexpectedly blew me away. I was a little concern before going to Lisbon. Like what I feel about going solo to Brazil. Anyway, yes, so many unforgettable and beautiful stories to tell ... they are about the people, the food and the culture.

Trips into/out of CI:
-Flew aboard a Low Cost Carrier via Malaga airport into Gran Canaria (LPA).
- Took the Fred Olsen Express Ferries at Agaete to hop onto the north Tenerife island in Santa Cruz.
- Flew LCC via South Tenerife airport (TFS) into Lisbon - yep, there is also an airport (TNF) in the north side.

Well, I never been and really wanted to go to Malaga and Lisbon - that is why I ended up going there before and after my trips to the Canaries. And the LCC airfares were cheap flying in and out there.

I am so excited already for the next one because I finally able to squeeze San Sebastián (me being a food lover) and Sevilla (for the culture & people ) in my itinerary. I will be flying out of Paris into Sevilla for the festivities around the 3 Kings Day etc. And of course, visits to Christmas markets in all the places I will be (re)visiting including the epic ones in Germany and Austria. Birthday in Rome with my best friend & co., Christmas in Vienna with some friends, NYE in London, New Year's Day in Paris and start of another great year in Spain & more. TL;DR-sorry.